A Child's Right to Play: Results from the Brain-Computer Interface Game Jam 2019 (Calgary Competition)

Children with severe neurological disabilities may be unable to communicate or interact with their environments, depriving them of their right to play. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) offer a means for such children to control external devices using only their brain signals, thereby introducing new opportunities for interaction. We organized the first North American BCI Game Jam to incite the development of BCI-compatible games for children. Nine games were submitted by 30 participants across North America. Games were judged by researchers and disabled children currently using BCI. Preliminary results demonstrate variety in game criteria preferences amongst the children who judged the games. The BCI Game Jam demonstrated promising potential for the creation of enjoyable games to suit the individual needs and preferences of children with severe neurological disabilities.